OK, Beretta experts, look at this sight

[YVK]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/Heartachedoc/IMG_20130413_230825_454_zps34005cae.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Heartachedoc/media/IMG_20130413_230825_454_zps34005cae.jpg.html)

This is a front sight on my new acquisition. The gun was sold as "unfired", and by looks of it, does seem unfired although there is some minimal residue in the barrel (function check? sighting?).

The front sight is quite obviously drifted to the left. It is also sightly staked to keep it in position. Is it something that could be expected on Elite II from a factory, such as sighting, drifting and staking in the front sight?

[LHS]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/Heartachedoc/IMG_20130413_230825_454_zps34005cae.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Heartachedoc/media/IMG_20130413_230825_454_zps34005cae.jpg.html)

This is a front sight on my new acquisition. The gun was sold as "unfired", and by looks of it, does seem unfired although there is some minimal residue in the barrel (function check? sighting?).

The front sight is quite obviously drifted to the left. It is also sightly peened to keep it in position. Is it something that could be expected on Elite II from a factory, such sighting, drifting and peening the front sight?

Not sure about the Elite II, but my Elite has its front sight peened in place from the factory.

[ToddG]

Cannot speak to current production, but while I worked there every dovetailed from sight (Brigadiers, Elites, Vertecs) had a staked front sight.

[YVK]

Cannot speak to current production, but while I worked there every dovetailed from sight (Brigadiers, Elites, Vertecs) had a staked front sight.

Todd, what are the chances that the sight is so off center because Beretta really zeroed it, vs it being a QC lapse?

I know I'll find out the first time I shoot it but, as I said in another thread, I plan on 2-3 weeks of dry fire with it.

[ToddG]

Y -- To the best of my knowledge, every Elite 2 was test fired & zeroed at the factory. Having said that, I'd say unlikely that the front sight needed to get moved that much (or at all) to achieve proper zero. Is the rear sight properly aligned? If so, I'd expect the gun to shoot to the right on its first outing. But there's no way to be sure without sending rounds downrange.

[YVK]

If so, I'd expect the gun to shoot to the right on its first outing.

And so it did. Haven't measured my targets yet, but looks like about 5 inches, at 25 yards.

An interesting observation, in tune with that demo you do in your class when you move front sight all over rear's notch and still get hits. Even with this grossly drifted front, I couldn't really tell until after 12 yards and was still hitting 3x5 at 15.

[ToddG]

An interesting observation, in tune with that demo you do in your class when you move front sight all over rear's notch and still get hits.

Just for clarification for those who haven't done it, the drill involves moving the rear sight all over the place but keeping the front sight properly aligned on the intended POI. It demonstrates, as YVK says, just how messed up your sight alignment can be and still turn in adequate hits.